Iran pursues 'win-win' in nuclear talks, ex-lawmaker says

Hazardous materials must be swiftly removed from Iranian ports and not left to accumulate, a senior shipping official said following the fatal explosion at Rajaei port.
“Dangerous goods should be transported out immediately,” said Yahya Ziaei Mehrjerdi, secretary-general of Iran’s Shipowners Association on Sunday.

He rejected efforts to place blame solely on the Ports and Maritime Organization, noting that “the explosion took place at the port, but responsibility lies across multiple agencies.” Ziaei Mehrjerdi cited low storage fees, financial bottlenecks and documentation problems as reasons cargoes often remain uncleared.

A senior Iranian industry official has blamed “systemic human error” and poor logistics for the recent fire at Rajaei port.
The blaze stemmed from “insufficient customs infrastructure, poor storage practices and excessive container buildup,” said Arman Khaleqi, secretary-general of Iran’s Chamber of Industry, Mine and Trade.
He urged the creation of a fact-finding committee to issue a comprehensive report. “Many ships are idling at sea because our ports lack adequate loading capacity,” Khaleqi said, adding that shifting tariffs and currency rates have also deterred cargo clearance.

The temperature at the site of the Rajaei port explosion reached 1,400 degrees Celsius, making water immediately evaporate and ineffective in extinguishing the container fires, the head of Tehran's fire department said on Sunday.

Ghodratollah Mohammadi told ISNA that the fires in the incident occurred within closed containers holding various materials, including food, car parts, and bitumen.

Mohammadi said that firefighters had to open the containers to control the blaze, adding that using water on a container filled with bitumen, for example, was not feasible.

Twenty-five people injured in the explosion at Rajaei port remain hospitalized, according to the head of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences on Sunday.

Pejman Shahrokhi told the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) that a total of 1,566 people sought medical attention following the blast. Five of those admitted to hospitals have died.

Shahrokhi added that 193 surgical procedures have been performed on the injured.

Sahel Nasiri and his friend Benyamin Gholami were approached by police for a body search and an attempt to confiscate their motorcycle on Friday evening at Zibakenar Beach in Iran’s Gilan province, Hengaw’s report said, according to local sources.

When Nasiri resisted and tried to mount the vehicle, officers shot him twice in the head at close range, killing him.

Nasiri’s body was transferred to the local police station that night, and his friend Gholami was taken into custody, the report said.

Gilan province police said Nasiri and another motorcyclist had been carrying crystal meth, marijuana, and hashish. They said he tried to disarm officers and was “neutralized” after a warning shot failed to stop him.

Nasiri’s death triggered protests by residents of Zibakenar, who set fire to banners on the local police station, according to Hengaw.

The rights group said the demonstrations ended after security forces stormed the area and clashed with protesters.

Nasiri’s body was handed over to his family following hours of protests and threats from authorities and was buried in his hometown on Saturday, the group added.